Improvement jn trunk-locks



James H. @Even A PATENTE AUG 8 3; il J8@ 6 Trunk LQcli.- n

/Vitnesses. 31u-venten'.

' ff I /wm UNITED STATES JAMES H. OLIVER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN TRUNK-LOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 117,806, dated August 8, 1871.

To allwhom it may concern:

Beit known that I, JAMEs H. OLIVER, of the city of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain Improvements in Trunk-Locks, of which the following is a specification:

The iirst part of my invention relates to the construction of a metallic bolt and hasp. The main portion or lower division of the bolt is square in section and about one-fourth inch across by about one and a half inches long, adapted in size to a tube or chamber in which it plays, and also to the openings in the plates and hasp. The upper portion ofthe bolt rises from the upper surface of the lower portion. A deep notch divides it into two projections, a longer and a shorter one, one above the other, the upper being the shorter. Each of these projections is beveled to correspond with the beveled end of the hasp. This bolt is kept in position by a spiral spring within the tube, in which it plays. rlhe hasp has two openings corresponding with the projections of the bolt and with similar openings in two plates, between which it passes when forced into the lock. lVhen thus forced in it comes in contact Erst with the beveled end ofthe upper projection of the bolt, and forces it back until the beveled surface of the lower projection is brought within its range of action, and allows it to pass in until its openings are opposite to those ofthe plates, when the bolt springs to its place and retains it, from whence it cannot be removed eX- cept by the use of the key. A catch or projection from the lower side of the bolt is acted upon bythe key. By this construction and combination, as above described, lateral motion, and consequent friction, is almost totally obviated, and strength and durability secured.

The spriiig-lever in the outer chamber is provided with projections which guide the key to the key-hole of the inner lock, and the curtain serves to obscure the entrance to the inner portion of the lock, these latter devices being similar to those in use in other locks.

Figure 1 is a front view with outer plate, shown in dotted lines, removed. Fig. 2 is a front view of inside with inner plate J removed. Fig. 3 is an edge view with plate s s removed. Fig. 4 is the same view as Fig. 3 with the key depressed and the bolt withdrawn. Fig. 5 represents the bolt A and hasp B.

A is the bolt, and has two projections, a and a', each having beveled ends iitting and passing through the apertures t and u in the hasp B, and are of unequal thickness, the upper, a', bein g the smaller and shorter. rlhe lower and larger proj ection a, being the main astening, projects through the apertures in the plates E and F, while the upper one a', being shorter, projects only through the aperture in th e plate E andthe corresponding aperture in the haspB. The advantage ofthis construction consists in the eii'ectof the descending hasp upon the projection a', whereby the bolt is t'orced back so far as to allow the descending hasp to operate on the larger and lower projection a, and to cause it to recede and admit the hasp to its place, thus completing the fastening. The catch C 'attached to the bolt A is acted on by the key. D is a tube, into which slides thebolt A, and also contains the spring mI which actuates the bolt. The plates E and F are perforated by openings t and a corresponding tothe apertures in the hasp, in which the bolt remains when locked. G is the keystem, larger at its upper end than below the curtain H, the latter' being kept in place by the spiral spring I and guided by the uprights hand h. J is the middle plate dividing the lock into outer and inner chambers. K is a spring-lever, with projections .7c and l acted upon by the key when turned while in the outer or false chamber'. 0

is an elevated guard, consisting of a circular rim to the inner key-hole. s s is the end plate, detached in Figs. 3 and Il.

In the construction of this lock the plates E and F and hasp B should be of equal thickness, the plates being so adjusted that the hasp passes readily between and asnearly as possible iills laterally the space formed by them. The lower part a of the bolt is so accurately and closely adjusted to the tube D and to the openings in the plates E and F and in the hasp B as to leave the least possible space for its free action within them. The width of the hasp is at least four times its thickness, and yenters the lock with its broad surface or plane at right angles with bolt A. The beveled end ofthe hasp B entering the lock comes in contact with the beveled end of the projection a', forces the bolt back until the beveled surface of the larger projection a is brought within its range of action and allows it to pass in, when the bolt springs to its place and retains it. The lock :is divided into outer and inner chambers, the

outer containing a spring-lever, K, the structure of which only differing` from others in use by llaving two projections, 7c and Z, between which the ke;Y passes in its entrance to the inner ellamber. When passed into the outer chamber and moved carefully to the right over the larger projection K, and then pressed gently inward, Ythe key passes to the inner chamber and readily opens the look, force being applied at the saine time to the liasp until it is released. The relative position of the inner key-hole and appendages to the outer one need not be uniformly the saine, and, if desired, Iadditional spring-levers forth.

JAS. H. OLIVER. Witnesses:

J As. STORY, JAMES S. GRINNELL. 

